Electric device.



A. A. KENT.

BLEGTRC DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEIz, 1908.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

ATTORNEYq S E S.. s E N .n W

A A. KENT.

ELECTRIC DEVICE.

AFFLOATION FLBD JUNE 12, 1908. j nggig @E Patented Deo. 30, 1913 3 SEBETBSHEET 3.

'K2 J7 .42 y f Y ATTORNEY TEUR LTWATEB XEN', 0F RHILADELPHA, I'ENNSYLVANIA. A

ELECTRIC DEVICE.

.To all z'tmay concern.'

" .Be it known that I, ARTHUR A'rwArn' KENT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of Philade phia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in yElectric Devices, of which the following 1s a full, clear, and'exact disclosure. Y My invention relates to electric contact de- 10 vices and especially to that class of devices in which'itis' desired to obtain a positive,

certain closing 'and rapid break of an electric circuit; siich,` for example, as those con- Atact.;l'levitaes'nsed to produce -a spark for Iml5. tornaiengines; but my 'inventioniisvnot limited to. such s e'ctxc use, inasmuch as itis applicable or many pur- OSSJl-L P Onei objectof my invention is to provide '20 'e'vie. ofth e kind above indicated, in 4which-the circuit closing member or element separate-from its actuating member, so thatthefsaid parts may be removed or replaced withoutdisturbing the adjustment of A 215 the other-.parts of the device.

Aurther'pbject f.' y invention is to `provide'.aj'device'in which a constant force,

such.asafspring, may be used'to give the Girduticlosln'giflember its initial rmotion, 30. and to throw the circuit closing member b v momentum into operative engagement with a contact point .to vclose the circuit, the said circuit closing member holding the circuitclosed longen'ough to insure a fiow of the current instantaneously and positively breaking the circuit to cause the. spark.

A further object of my invention is to i rovide av devicein which the circuit cannot e held closed.' indefinitely -to r'un down the 0 battery or waste the current; that is to say,

the machine cannot be stoppedin such a ment.

A further object of inv invention is to 45. rovidea mechanism in which the time dur- `50 a moving-.or driven part of any suitable mechanism with which the said device is used.

,Further objects of my invention will apear in Athe specification and claimsbelow.

In the drawings termin a part of this specification and in which t e same reference 'Specification of Letters Patent. Application tiled June 12, 190B. Serial No. 438,089..

position as to leave the contacts in engage- Patented 1386.30, 1913.

character is used throughout the various views to designate the same part, Figure 1 indicates diagrammatically one form or embodiment of my. invention; Figs. 2 to 5 are @o similar views of different modified forms. of my device. Referring particularly toFig. l, 1 indi- -cates a shaft which is adaptedvto be driven by any suitable means.' It may be the shaft 65 of an internal combustion engine or a shaft coupled to and driven by aninternal combustion engine, or of any other machine with which it may be desirable to use acontact device. Upon th'e shaft is-mounted a cam 2 7'0 having one or more interruptions or depressions 34 in the surface thereof. 4 indicates an actuating element or member which in the drawing is shown in the formfof a lever pivoted at the point 5 on a -suitable sup.75 port 6. One end of the said actuating mem-- ber' or element is adapted to contact and ,follow the surface of the cam 2, thesaid' element being-normally pressed' in the direction of the said cam 2 by means of a 80 sprinfr 7 attached at one end to said element 4 and:` at' the other end rto a suitable pin 8 mounted on the structure 6. .The actuating member 4 is slotted as at 26,'the ivot pin 5 passing through said slot, `and tie ring 35 i is preferably so arranged that it hol s the said member in the position shown inv said figure, with the pin 5 at one end o f theV slot and the outer end of said member yicldingly pressed against the cam 2. The stop pin 25 ,9`o is also arranged under the member 4 so that the said member 4 is preaented from further movement in a vforward direction even when forced to.the right and otf the stop surface 31`of said cam as will be explained 95 below. l 4i f) indicates a movable circuit closing member or element which is pivoted at 10 to the rigid portion of the machine orapparatus.

The movable circuit closing element is shown 100 as a lever, one end'of which is 'normally pressed against or held in xoperative en'ffage'- ment with the actuating element '4 by a spring 1l. The 'said memberis shownas.,

resting against. aflugi1 on the actuating 105 -18 secured tose'id circuit .elosivngelement 9 at one end, als'iby -a sci-ew 14, with the free end ofl said. spring tending to move in a direction away from said circuit closing elev ment but'r'iestrained `from said movement by a lug attached to or integral with thesaid circuit closing element, land engaging v.the outer or lfree end of. said spring 13., Said' spring thereforefis under tension and presses normally against the said-lug 15. The said spring is provided with vaplatinum contact" point 16 adapted to coperate with afstationary contact point or screw 17 sup orted by the rigid motion isi-suddenly` arrestedfbuty the circuitment, then in engagementwith said cam, is

lifted from the sto surface 31 of the deression 3 until it rides upon the outerlsur-'f ace 21 of said cam, the same4 being moved against the teiision of the spring 7. The circuit closing element 9 moves upward with the actuating 'element-4 under the influence of the spring 11; which vholds the elements` v- 4- and 9 -pressed together or in operative 30 i the cam 2 is' rotated suiiiciently` to bring engagement during such movement. When the notch-or depression 53 under t e free end cette actuating elementi the aid-eis..

"impelleddownwa e f stop surface 15131 of .t

until notch spring 7. l his m ovement of the a Vtuating e ement 4 carrieswith it the circui -closing element 9 because` thetensionaof th spring 11 tending to turn .the element9 on, ts pivot is less than. that ofthe spring V7 te ding to turn the element 4. When `the actuating element. strikes the surface 31Mits downward closing element 9 continues to mov e on--byits momentum' until'the contact point 16 1 engages the stationary V`contact point '17;

' se arate the contact points and thepartsf- The action .o f the `springll' will immediately wi l resume the position shown in Fig. 1. In connection withthe ol ration above i described it is .tov beV noted-t at the spring 13 -is under tensionl at 'all times and consequently when the element 9; is being thrown downward by., inertia, the moment the con` tact ppints 16 and 17 engage the spring 13 will forced 0E the lug or lip 15 and when so forced :otsaid lug ljtpe tension of the spring 13 will cocperate with and assist the spring 11 in rapi ly separating the contact points. Moreover, since the sprin 13 normally presses against the lug or ps 15 it cannot vibrate independently to the circuit closing element 9 or eiove relatively thereto iegcept as itis pusl i orjforced oit the lip 15`by the engagement of the contact lpoints 16' and 17. Moreover, the breaking of the circuit between thecontact points 15 and 16 is instantaneous since the moment the spring 13 ren'gages the lip or lug 15 there is* no pressure whatever between the contact points 16 and 17 and the contact point 16 is positively carried awa from the Contact point 17 by the circuit c osing member. If, how-v ever, the cam 2 is revolved in the reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow, the actuating member 4 will he-pushed or slid to theV right against the tension of the inclined spring 7 such movement being perniitted by the slot 26, and no vibratory movement, but merely a reciprocating movement will be imparted to the member 4, as the notch 3 moves into and out of register with the end of the said member 4. This movement will not'eause any movement of the circuit closing member 9 and the circuit will y remain broken.

'ffjIn the modification 4shown in Fig. 2, the

parts are slightly differently arranged but their operation is lsubstantially the same with that 'previously described. In the said modification the cam 2 enffages the circuit closing member 9and lifts both the actuatingelement 4 ,and the circuit closing ele-l ment 9together. When the elevated portion 2r Vpasses the end of the lever 9 the stii spring?! -forces both elements downwardand when the actuating element ,4 engages the stop' 19 the circuit closing element continues "to move 'un'der the influence of inertia closing the contact points 16 and 17. The spring 11 returns the -circuit closing element tothe position Ishown in Fig. 2 and breals the circuit.

As reviously described the reverse niotion o the cam 2'will similarly cause a re ciprocatory movement of the circuit closing member 9, but the sptimr 11 will hold the said member 9 against tie member 4 and -thecircuit will not be closed.

Invth'e modification shown in Fig. 3'the actuating element or member 4 is shown as vbeing pivoted at 5 upon a lever 20, which in turn is ivoted as at 21 onthe rigid portion .6 of t e device and the circuit closin element or member 9 is normally press d and held in-engagemeiit with the ctuating element or'inember 4 by means( f a leaf s ring 111,-one end of'wliich isfsecured to t e` circuit closing element by a screw 23 and the 'other end of which normally presses against the actuating element 4. In thisv modification provisionis also made for the reversal of the cam without closing the cir-- cuit. The spring 7 in addition to holding' the' actuating member 4 normally preed against the cam also draws the said m'ember 4, and' with it the ivoted lever 20 upon which it is supporte', against .the stop 24.

Whemhoweel'ythe ca m is revolved in the direction opposite to that indicated bythe arrow in Fig. .3 the member 4 will be forced to the right of Fig. 3 and' against'the action of the spring and the lever 20 will-be turned to the right o n its pivot 21. The end of` the actuating member 4 which engages with the cam is prevented, however, from moving downward an y farther by the stop pin In this modi ication when the cam 2 1s driven in the reverse ydirection the lever A2O will be oscillated about the point or pivot 21 and the actuating member will merel reciprocate without effecting a closure o the circuit.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 a similar provision 1s made for the reciprocation of the actuating element or member 4A without operating the circuit closingfelement when the -cam 2 is driven'in the re' verse direction to that at which it normally operates. In this modificationthe actuating member 4 is provided with a slot 26 within Whiclris the pinY 5 forming the pivot of said actuating member.. The spring 7 normally -holds said actuating member in the .position indicated in the said figure at one end of its path and when the shaft is rotating in 'the direction shown by the arrow the operation of the device is the same as that which has been previously described, the actuating member 4` turning about the pin 5 as a pivot.. IVhen, however, the shaft is revolved in the opposite direction the ac` tuating element will be forced to the right.`

of the position shown in Fig. 4 until the elevated portion 21 of the cam passes the shoulder of the said member and will remain there until the notch 3 again is opposite thc said member when it will ret-urn to the position shown in Fig. 4 under the infiuence of spring 7. In other words, the actuating element. will be longitudinally reciprocated whenthecam 2 is driven in the reverse direction and without effecting' any yoperation whatever of the circuit closing element 9.

Fig. 5 indicates a'simplified form of ognstruction. In this modification the actuating element 4 is provided'w-ith an unturned: end 40 forming an angle within which the member is pressed against the pivot p in 5f by -the spring 7. As before the 'tensionof the spring 7 also holds the free end ofv said member pressed lagainst the cam 2.

The circuit closing member 91 consists of a spring arm. rigidly secured to the struc.

i ,ture or frame 6 by a screw or other fasten- The tension of the spring ating member or element- 4 and the spring 7 is allowed to force the said member against the stop 31; When thecam is rotated in the reverse direction the member 4 merely reciprocates longitudinally on the pivot 5 and 70 stop pin 25 asA guides, beingforced in one direction by said cam andi'n the opposite direction by said spring 7. A small weight 9.2 on the freeend of the circuit closing element 91 may be employed, to -i mpart sutli- 75 cient weight to' cause it to Ibe thrown un'- der momentum against the contact 17 ;4 the point 16 should be located adjacent the in ner end of the said weight soas to alow the weight to tend to turn. about the contact 17 when it strikesthe same and the spring arm.` 91 to yield thereby preventing a heavy blow to be struck upon the contact 'points and excessive wear is prevented.A

Ip all the forms above described the two elements are yieldingly pressedtogether and move together in one directionwhen act-uated by the cam 2 4 Whenthe notch al- :lows the spring 7 to act, bot h members are impelled in the opposite direction, but when the element 4 engages the surface 31 or the pin 25, thecircuit closing ele'ment moves on under momentum away-fromA the actuating element.` into engagement with a circuit closing member-.suck as'the contact point 17. 95 When t-he movement of the circuit closing element is stopped by the point' 17 the spring'arm 13 or the spring 11 or both, (Figs. 1 to 4) or the resiliency of the arm 91 (Fig. 5) causes the circuit'closing ele- 100 ment'to break the circuit and rengage the actuating element 4.

From the above it will be seen that I have Yprovided a construction in which an electric circuit may be mechanically closed 165 and broken ata' uniform rate ofspeed irrespective of the. speed oflthe operating mechanism,.`inasmuch as thesame is eti'ected by the spring alone. :The spring isplaced under tension` and released at the proper time by a mechanically driven member but the lcircuit. is closed bythe mo-l mentum of a spring actuated member. Moreover the construction is such that if oney of the various parts becomes worn or broken itcan be removed and repaired or Vreplaced without disturbing .the Aother parts ofthe 'device. The circuit closing element s is separate and independent from the other `parts of the mechanism and fromthe actuator; but is normally yieldingly pressed against it under tension.

IVhile I have described several forms or embodiments of my invention I do notl wish to be construed as being limited to' the same, 125 inasmuch as my invention is capable of embodimentin different forms, all of which are fully contemplated by me so long 'as they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what first' mentioned element, whereby said second element is Separated from its operative engagement with said first element and thrown by momentum into operative engagement with said contact member to substantially momentarily close a circuit.. v

2. In a contact device a contact member,

-a movable/element, a second movable eleL ment, disconnected from said firstv element,

' yieldirig means for,normally' holding said elements, in operative engagement and tending to`move saidl second movable element away 'from said contact member, means -for -movmgA said ,elements in fa .direction away l from sai @contact member,"means for rap-l K, u member.'

'idly moving said elements -in the opposite direction, means for suddenly stopping the A motion ofulsaid first element at the end of its.

movementV in said opposite direction whei'eby said second element is thrown out ofsaid engagement with said first element and into ope native, Y engagement with said \contact 3. In acontact device' a contact member,

"aL-movable element, a second Vmovable element, means forvnormally holding said members in yielding engagement,v meansA for moving said elements together in a direc-v tion away from said contact member, means for rapidly moving said elements in the 'op' posite direction, and inopposition tosaid means for holding the same together, means for suddenlyvsto ping the motion o f said first element at 'the-,end 'bf its 'movement in said opposite directin'wbereby saidsecond element is substantially momentarily separated {rome-said tirst'element and thrown by momentum 'iii-gpgrative engagement with said contact r.

,y 4. In'a contactfdevice a contact member,

-a movable element, a second movable element mounted independently oisaid first element, means'for normally holding said elements in substantially yielding engagement'and tending to move Vsaid second movable element away from said contact-mem; ber; means for moving said elements rapidly toward each contact member .in oppositionl to said means for holdingl said elementsthrown out of said engagement withsaid first .element into operative engagement with said' contact member.

'5. In a contact device a contact member, a movable element, a second independent movable element, means normally acting to yieldingly press said elements toward each other and tending to move said second element in -a direction away from said contact member, means for rapidly moving said elements together toward said' contact member and for then suddenly stopping the'motion of said first element whereby the second element is thrown out of operativev engagement with said first element and into operative engagement with said contact member.

ment disconnected from said first element, means for yieldingly pressingsaid-circt closing elementtoward said actuating"elif-lv ment and away from said contact member,

tuating element whereby said circuit closing element is thrown by momentum, away from said actuating element and into opera tive engagement with said contact member to close an electric circuit. A f `7. In acontact device an electrical con? tact, an actuating element, a circuit closing ment.but normally'yieldingly pr subtion substantially away from said electrical contact, means for moving said elements together toward said `electrical contact, means for suddenly stopping said motion of said actuating element whereb said'circuit clos- -ing element is substantlally momentarily thrown out of operative engagement with` said actuating element and into operative engagement with saidcontact. l 8. In a contact device a movable element, an independently mounted second movable element, yielding means .for normally hold@ ing said elements together, means acting in opposition to said yielding means for 'throwing said second element by momentum away T from said. iirstmention'ed element, and a 'contact member against'which said second tric circuit. 9. In a contact device an actuating element normally held against a stop, a movable circuit closing element mounted indeing Ameans for normally pressing saidcirating element awayffrom said stop, means together; means for suddenly stoppingsaid' to movesaid actuating element away from motion of said first element whereby said second element is substantially momentarily said stop, and means for rapidly returning Lsaid actuating el lment' to its original posiv6. In a contact device a contact member, an actuating element, a circuit closing velestantially against the same and in a direcmovable element isthmwn to close an elec:

cuit closing element aga-inst said actuating,

element and tending to move Asaid actuv* means .for moving said elements' together A toward said'contact member, and for them' suddenly stoppmg'the motion of said sti*- element detached from said actuatinopelependently of said actuating element, yield-A 'Y ist "ing element against said' stop, means to movesaid actuating element away from said stop,

and to then release said actuating element to allow -said yielding means to move said actuating element back against said stop,'wliere by said circuit closing element is thrown by momentum into substantially momentary engagement with said contact point.

11 In a contact device, a contact point, a rotatable cam havinga portion of'its surfacefnearer rto the axis of rotation of said cam than another portion of its surface and y provided witha shoulder form-ing a quick l drop between said portions, anactuating element having one end bearingagainst said cam` and provided with a recess onefdge of. which forms a 'shouldena support 'forrsaidactuating element loosely 'mounted vin said "recess, yielding means for normally holding -Vgsaid actuating-elementwith said'shoiilder against said sup ort,al circuit closing mem'- bermounted in ependently of said actuats, ing member,.and yielding means to normally it press said circuit 'closing member against said actuating member'a'nd tending to moye saiducircuit closing member in a direction away from said Contact point. p 12. In a contact device a contact pointfa l0 circuit closing member having alresilient i portion normally underftension, a. contact v oint mounted on Said resilient portion, an i independently mounted actuating member, means for normally holding said elements in 5 yielding engagement and tending to move i said circuit closing member away. from said first mentioned contact point, means for rapidly moving said elements toward each contact point and for then suddenly arresting so the movement of said actuating member whereby l said circuit closing member is thrown by momentum away from said actuating member and said contact point on said resilient portion of said circuit closing memi6 ber is moved into engagement with said `first mentioned contact point.

13. In a contact device,` a contact member, l a movable element, a' second' movable ele'- t0 Said e ements in lopeinve engagement and nient, iyielding means for-.normally holding tending to movel said second movable element away from said contact member, means for movingsaid elements in a direction away `from said contact member, means for rapsaid stationary contact member, means tol'. y,

move said movable element` in a direction awayfroin .said stationary contact member, said yielding means holding said movable contact vmember in engagement with Asaid element during said movement, means Vto rapidly move said inovableelement and said movable Contact member toward said stationary Contact member, and means for sud-K Afde'nly stopping the motion of said movable!` element at the end of its movement toward said 'stationary contact member whereby said movable contact member is thrown into ino- "mentarilyioperative engagement with said stationary'contact member. f

15. Ina Contact device, a stationary contact point,"a movable element, a second movable element, yielding means for holding said elements in operative engagement and tending tof`ni0ve said second movable element away from 'said stationary .conta-et oint, a rotatable cam having a portion of its surface nearer to the axis of rotation of said cam than a second portion of its surface and provided with a. quick drop between said portions, iclding means for holding said first mova le element against the surface of said cam`and to move said first movable element rapidly toward said stationary contact point when that portion of the surface of saidl cam most remote from thtI axis of said Acam moves .from under said movable element p to momentarily throw' said second movable element into operative engagement with said stationary contact point.

, In-witness whereof I have hereunto set-my hand this tenth day of June, A. D., 1908.

ARTHUR ATWATER KENT. Witnesses: A G. B. LUCAS,

' J. B. SIMPSON. 

